State representatives are considering a bill that would remove the voices of educators -- and the students and parents they serve -- from the process of establishing school calendars and schedules. HB 4163 would prohibit collective bargaining about school calendar and schedule. A similar bill was defeated in the last legislative session, thanks to strong opposition from parents, educators and school administrators.
Educators are the experts on the front lines who know what students need in terms of a calendar and schedule. Prohibiting calendar from bargaining is yet another example of the state overstepping its role and usurping local authority.
Even one of the initial sponsors of last year's bill, Republican Ed McBroom, dropped his support for the bill because he’s realized school calendars are a reasonable subject for management and bargaining units to negotiate. Representative McBroom explained there is a fight in the U.P. every year to preserve local traditions, such as days off for hunting season or the county fair which students want to participate in, because superintendents often are not native to the area. He said, “They don’t know our area and they don’t understand our culture and heritage. I think local teachers often have a much better perception of that heritage.”
As schools move forward with innovative programs and individualized learning plans, administration and educators need to work together to plan, prepare, and solve problems that achieve best practices and create an effective learning environment for children. The collective bargaining process is the perfect way to accomplish that -- which is why lawmakers should reject HB 4163.
Please contact your state representative today. Use the tool to the right to send an email -- or you can look up your representative's phone number to call his/her office instead.
Educators are the experts on the front lines who know what students need in terms of a calendar and schedule. Prohibiting calendar from bargaining is yet another example of the state overstepping its role and usurping local authority.
Even one of the initial sponsors of last year's bill, Republican Ed McBroom, dropped his support for the bill because he’s realized school calendars are a reasonable subject for management and bargaining units to negotiate. Representative McBroom explained there is a fight in the U.P. every year to preserve local traditions, such as days off for hunting season or the county fair which students want to participate in, because superintendents often are not native to the area. He said, “They don’t know our area and they don’t understand our culture and heritage. I think local teachers often have a much better perception of that heritage.”
As schools move forward with innovative programs and individualized learning plans, administration and educators need to work together to plan, prepare, and solve problems that achieve best practices and create an effective learning environment for children. The collective bargaining process is the perfect way to accomplish that -- which is why lawmakers should reject HB 4163.
Please contact your state representative today. Use the tool to the right to send an email -- or you can look up your representative's phone number to call his/her office instead.
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